Appeal from officials, including two senior figures from Trump’s first term, comes amid reports National Science Foundation’s budget will be slashed

Chuck Hagel, the former US defense secretary, and other former US national security officials, including two senior figures from Donald Trump’s first term, on Tuesday warned that China was outpacing the US in critical technology fields and urged Congress to increase funding for federal scientific research.

The appeal comes a week after the National Science Foundation (NSF), which funds science research, fired 170 people in response to Donald Trump’s order to reduce the federal workforce. An NSF spokesman declined comment on reports that hundreds more layoffs were possible and that the agency’s budget could be slashed by billions.

The ex-officials want Congress to provide at least $16bn authorized for the NSF in fiscal year 2025, according to a letter seen by Reuters addressed to Trump, John Thune, the Senate majority leader, and Mike Johnson, speaker of the US House of Representatives.

“China is making significant strategic investments in basic and applied research and positioning the country to outpace us in critical areas that could determine the outcome of future conflicts,” the letter said. “This is a race that we cannot afford to lose.”

Twenty-one people, or more than 20% of TIP staff, were fired last week, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. Nearly 20% more are vulnerable temporary federal employees, said another source, who was not authorized to speak publicly.

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Former officials who also signed the letter with Hagel included Chris Miller, acting defense secretary during Trump’s first term, and Doug Fears, Trump’s former homeland security adviser.

Source: www.theguardian.com